Conservation News

Oaks are a keystone species supporting more wildlife that any other tree species in our region. To promote these ecological foundations, we're lending out copies of "The Nature of Oaks" by Doug Tallamy AND offering 33% off Oaks in the Spring Tree & Shrub Sale!

In 2026 We will have two vacancies on our Board of Directors and would love to see your name on the ballot.

Welcome Jill Lada as the Community Engagement Specialist!

Jill works to connect the community of Washtenaw County to our programs and services through outreach and volunteer coordination.

Mill Creek Middle school students and volunteers came together to install native plants in May and June 2024. The project created monarch habitat, provided experiential learning, and expanded environmental education at Mill Creek Middle in Dexter.

In October, Ypsilanti High School hosted the first local pilot of The Tree Lab, a mobile, hands-on STEM experience that introduces students to forestry, agroforestry, and ecological restoration careers. The pilot brought together WCCD staff and community partners for various educational demonstrations.

The Farm at Trinity Health has a Native Demonstration Prairie that is a space for community education about native ecosystems. In this project they expanded these efforts to include more public engagement and native plantings. Multiple establishment methods have been used in the Native Demonstration Prairie. Read this post-install report to learn more.

Before the snow, a local community member successfully transformed a section of their lawn into an efficient rain garden. As a solution to managing stormwater runoff, the project was executed using tools from our tool lending library and successfully absorbed a 1.5-inch rainstorm immediately after completion.

Ann Arbor STEAM Northside leveraged the School and Community Habitat Grant to develop an incredible project at their school. Utilizing class participation, they applied for and installed a native pollinator garden on school grounds. They were engaged with real problems like erosion, enhanced plant diversity, and put on a showcase of the diverse native plants found in Southeast Michigan.

The EMU Children’s Institute successfully utilized the SCHG to create an interactive Rain Play Garden. Supported by partner Feral Flora, the project mobilized over 40 community volunteers and students to dig and install "mini-raingardens" directly into the nature playground. This hands-on initiative exists as an educational space that inspires environmental curiosity while improving the resilience of the school's landscape.